Toy electric railway current collector means



NOV. 29, 1960 w, DAVls 2,962,563

TOY ELECTRIC RAILWAY CURRENT COLLECTOR MEANS Filed Sept. 5, 1954 3Sheets-Sheet l TOY ELECTRIC RAILWAY CURRENT COLLECTOR MEANS Filed Sept.3, 1954 W. M. DAVIS Nov. 29, 1960 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 NN NM NM MN NW N W.M. DAVIS Nov. 29, 1960 TOY ELECTRIC RAILWAY CURRENT COLLECTOR MEANSFiled Sept. 3, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Q' J 0 70/ 57 if I M 0 J 047 5554"ll- HEM States TOY ELECTRIC RAILWAY CURRENT COLLECTOR MEANS Wilbur M.Davis, 63 86th St., Brooklyn, N.Y.

Filed Sept. 3, 1954, Ser. No. 454,037

2 Claims. (Cl. 191-45) The usual electrical toy railway system includesa track which serves the dual purpose of forming a roadway over whichcars are propelled and of forming part of the electrical powerdistributing means to one or more cars equipped with motors. It is oftendesired to provide such toys to relatively young children. However,typical constructions while varying widely are relatively intricate andtherefore unsuited for use by such young children. Furthermore, the costof' such toys which perform satisfactorily tends to prohibit their useby young children since the fragile construction of important partsthereof is not adapted to withstand the rugged handling and abuse towhich they would be subjected.

It is therefore a principal object of my invention to provide a highlyrugged toy electrical railway system made up of parts which individuallyare of rugged, simple construction and which may be readily assembled.

Another object is to provide such a rugged toy electrical railway systemcapable of withstanding rough usage to an exceptional degree and yetadapted tobe manufactured at an exceedingly low cost,

A further object is to provide an improved track especially well suitedfor such a toy electrical railway system and which is substantiallyflat, being free of protuberances, and therefore reducing to a minimumthe possibility that portions thereof may be bent or otherwise renderedinoperative.

Another object is to provide an electrically propelled car or locomotivehaving a contactor or wiper which is connected to and in circuit withits motor and which is of rugged yet simple construction for slidingalong in positive contact with conductive current carrying portions of atoy track.

Yet another object is to provide a power supply for such an electricaltoy in which the number of discrete parts is reduced to a minimum andwhich is of highly rugged construction but yet adapted to be produced atexceedingly low cost.

In accordance with my invention there is provided a track having a fiatelectrically nonconductive upper surface on which there are formed twospaced parallel conductive adherent coatings. Toy cars are provided withspaced Wheels having rims which run along the outer upper edge portionsof the track and having flanges which serve to retain the cars on thetrack. At least one of the toy cars is provided with a motor which isconnected to the conductive coatings by means of current collectormeans, one connected to each side of the motor, which slideably engageeach of the conductive areas. The track conductive coatings areconnected to opposite sides of a source of electrical current throughother conductive coatings formed on a nonconductive base and arranged ina pattern to provide two alternate paths which, together with adouble-pole, double-throw switch, serve as an adatent vantageous meansfor reversing the polarity of the track conductive coatings and therebythe direction of movement of the toy cars. Preferably, the conductivecoatings of the track and conductive coatings connecting them to thepower source are metalized areas formed by spraying conductive metal bymeans of a metalizing gun upon the nonconductive surfaces of the trackand power supply base.

Other objects as well as advantages of my invention will be apparentfrom the, following description of one preferred embodiment thereof andthe accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a plan view of a toyelectrical railway system constructed in accordance with my inventionand partially broken away for convenience;

Figure 2 is a plan view, on an enlarged scale, of a portion of track andthe power supply with the top of the latter removed;

Figure 3 is a sectional view through the line 33 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a sectional view through the line 4-4 of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a sectional view through the line 5-5 of Figure 2;

Figure. 6 is a plan view of the base of a motor driven toy vehicle,partially in section, taken through the line 66 of Figure 7;

Figure 7 is a sectional view, partially in elevation, through the line7-7 of Figure 6;

Figure 8 is. a bottom plan view of the toy locomotive; and

Figure 9 is a sectional view through the line 9-9 of Figure 7,

Referring now to the drawings in detail, track 10 may include aplurality of sections joined end to end to form an endless loop asshown. Each section of track 10 is of rigid electrically nonconductivematerial and may conveniently be cut or stamped from suitablecomposition board. While various types of board may be used, Ipreferably utilize a composition board having at least one relativelyrough surface such as for example board sold under the name hardboard.Other materials which. may also be used include cardboard and plywood.Tracks 10 may be made in the following manner. The track sections arefirst cut out or otherwise formed from the composition board stock. Thenthe rough surface of the track sections is covered with a mask shaped toleave exposed theproperly shaped and spaced areas to which adherentconductive coatings 11 and 12 are applied. It is to be understood thatthe coatings 11 and 12 as well as the coatings hereinafter to bedescribed have been shown with exaggerated thickness for purposes ofillustration and are relatively thin and in practice of the order ofabout .004 inch. For purposes which will be made apparent, conductivecoatings l1 and 12 are widened adjacent the ends of each track section.Coatings 11 and 12 are preferably formed by spraying conductive metal,such as aluminum, by means of a metalizing gun onto the masked roughsurface. Conductive coatings 11 and 12 may also be formed by afiixingconductive metal foil strips to the surface of the track sections.However, such foil strips are more difficult to apply and when heat isutilized in laminating the foil to the track section they often becomewarped. Another expedient, is to utilize conductive metal strips whichare embedded into the surface of the track sections. This manner ofproviding conductive areas is also more diflicult to carry out and hasthe further disadvantage in that sharp edges may be. left exposed. Ihave found that by spraying metal, and in particular aluminum, onto thesurface of the track sections a uniformly satisfactory product is formedwhich provides low resistance conductors which make good electricalcontact and have a long trouble-free life. While other methods may beutilized for forming the conductive coatings such as chemicaldeposition, they are generally substantially more expensive thanspraying.

Complementary conductive connectors 13, 14 are connected to oppositeends of each track section, a set being provided for each of thecoatings 11 and 12, and provide means for linking up the track sectionsto form the roadway for the cars and also to electrically bridgecoatings 11 and 12 of one section with the respective coatings onadjoining track sections. Connectors 13 may be readily formed from sheetmetal and provided with a tongue portion 13a having a boss formedthereon. When formed, connectors 13 may also be provided with tabs 13bby means of which the connectors are secured to one end of the tracksections in overlying and contacting relation with the aforementionedwidened portions of the conductive coatings 11 and 12.

Connectors 14 are of similar construction each being formed with atongue portion 14a and tabs 14b. Tongue portions 14a are provided with arecess or hole in complementary relation to the boss on tongues 13a forengaging the same.

One section of track is secured to a nonconductive base member 15 bymeans of two conductive straps 16, 17 suitably fastened thereto, as byconductive rivets 18 which electrically connect straps 16, 17 withconductive coatings 11, 12 respectively. Straps 16, 17 extend below thesection of track 10 so as not to interfere with the movement of the carswhile rivets 18 extend through the track and serve as conductors. Basemember '15 forms the base of a housing indicated generally at 19 inFigure 1 and may be adapted to receive several conventional dry cellbatteries. In the present instance, two contact posts 20, 21 areconnected to and supported on base member 15 in alined relation to aslot 22 through which three cells 23 may be inserted into housing 19 andalined in end to end contacting relation and in contact with posts and21. A rotatably mounted retaining member 34 when rotated so as to extendacross slot 22 serves to retain cells 23.

A pair of bowed, resilient, conductive members 24, 25 are secured tobase member 15 in side by side insulated relation. Members 24, 25 aremounted with their convex surfaces toward base member 15 so that themedian portions thereof engage the base member. The median portion ofconductive member 24 is electrically connected to contact post 20 by aconductive coating 26 formed on base member 15. Similarly, the medianportion of conductive member 25 is electrically connected to contactpost 21 by conductive coating 27.

A conductive coating 28 also formed on base member 15, is conductivelyconnected to strap 16 by one of the rivets 18 and extends along basemember 15 so as to underlie the left-hand end portion of conductivemember 25 and the right-hand end portion of conductive member 24 asviewed in Figure 2. Similarly, conductive coatings 29 and 30 areconnected adjacent to one end thereof to strap 17 and extend along basemember 15 so as to underlie respectively the left-hand end portion ofconductive member 24 and the right-hand end portion of conductive member25.

As shown most clearly in Figures 4 and 5, housing 19 has a pair ofapertures 31 formed therethrough adjacent to the opposite ends ofconductive members 24, 25 and in which actuators in the form of buttons32, 33 are seated. Enlarged base portion 32a of button 32 extends inengagement with one set of adjacent ends of conductive members 24, 25while enlarged base portion 33a of button 33 extends in engagement withthe opposite end portions of conductive members 24, 25. Thus, as viewed,button 32 engages the left and button 33 the right ends of conductivemembers 24, 25 which normally are in their raised positions and out ofcontact with their associated conductive coatings. It is evident thatconductive members 24, 25 form a double-pole, double-throw switchthereby permitting reversal of the connection between track conductivecoatings 11, 12 and the terminals of battery 23.

Referring now to Figures 6-9 in detail, motor driven toy vehicle 35 maybe a locomotive as shown and comprises a base 36 to which are rotatablysecured running Wheels 37 and drive wheels 38. Wheels 37 and 38 haverims which engage and run along the opposite peripheral portions oftrack 10, being retained thereon by outwardly disposed flanges 37a and38a, respectively. The rims of drive wheels 38 are covered by materialhaving a suit able high coefiicient of friction such as endless rubberbands 39 which bear against the upwardly presented peripheral portionsof track 10. Engaging bands 39 for driving wheels 38 are similar bands40 of smaller diameter engirdling the opposite extremities of driveshaft 41 which extends outwardly from motor 42. A U-shaped bracket 43having its base secured to base 36 provides a seat for a motor 42 and ispositioned so that bands 40 are maintained in frictional engagement withdrive wheels 38 due to the pressure exerted on motor 42 by resilientmember 44 interposed between motor 42 and casing 45. Resilient member 44may be of spongy material or, if desired, a spring may be used.

A pair of current collectors 46 are carried by vehicle base 36 inparallel spaced relation and each includes a generally L-shapedconductive support member 47 the horizontal portion of which extendslongitudinally of base 36 and is loosely secured by means of a pin 48 soas to be vertically displaceable to a limited extent. The verticalportions of each of the support members 47 extend upwardly each througha hole 49 formed in base 36 and are bent over and soldered to therelatively flexible leads 50 of motor 42. Each of the L-shaped supportmembers 47 is provided with tabs 51 which may be integral therewith andwhich serve to secure elongated contact brushes 52 to each of thehorizontal portions of support members 47. I have found that flatbraided wire is most suitable for forming brushes 52 and preferablyutilize tin or silver coated copper wire. Brushes 52 are spaced andalined so that each engages and may slide along one of the conductivecoatings 11, 12 when toy vehicle 35 is placed on track 10. It will benoted that the portion of conductive support members 47 engaging pins 48are turned up to provide suflicient clearance between coatings 11, 12and the heads of pins 48.

A pair of weights 53 each slideable in a hole 54, formed in base 36 andalined with the horizontal portion of each L-shaped conductive member 47so as to bear against the same provide means for maintaining brushes 52in firm engagement against the respective conductive coating 11. Thelower portion of each of the weights 53 is tapered as shown to providesuflicient clearance with respect to connectors 13 and 14. Springs orother suitable resilient means may be utilized in place of weights 53but since they would act against the weight of the relatively light toycar are much more difficult to use than the preferred weights 53 whichalso serve to lower the center of gravity of car 35. This is especiallydesirable when the lower portions of the vehicle are of relatively lightweight materials. It is to be understood that in the event base 36 isformed of electrically conductive material then suitable insulation isprovided to avoid a short circuit between coatings 11 and 12.

As shown in Figure 1, a plurality of suitably ornamented cars 55 havingoutwardly flanged running wheels 56 may be mounted on track 10 andcoupled to locomotive 35. Any desired coupling between the cars may beutilized and in the present instance hooks 57 and eyes 58 connected tothe rear and front of the cars are provided.

Motor 42 may be of conventional design suitable for energization by thesource of electrical power utilized.

with the reversing means previously described is especially desirable.

When the cars are set up and engaged one with the other on track currentcollectors 46 of locomotive 35 are positioned with brushes 52 eachbearing against and slideable along one of the conductive coatings 11,12. Since both ends of resilient members 24, 25 normally are raised andout of contact with the underlying conductive coatings the circuitbetween the terminals of battery 23 and motor 42 is open and the carsremain motionless. Now, when button 32 is depressed the left-hand endsof members 24, 25 are carried down into engagement with conductivecoatings 29 and 28 respectively thereby closing a circuit whichcomprises the left-hand battery terminal, contact post 20, conductivecoating 26, member 24, coating 29, strap 17, rivet 18 and trackconductive coating 12. Current is picked up from coating 12 by the brush52 in contact therewith and flows along its L-shaped support member andthe motor lead 58 connected thereto through the stator winding of motor42 and then to coating 11 by means of the other collector 46. Fromcoating 11 current flows to rivet 18, strap 16, conductive coating 28,then through conductive resilient member 25, the left-hand end of whichis also down, to coating 27 and contact post 21 which engages the otherterminal of battery 23. It is apparent then that depressing button 32serves to complete the circuit to motor 42 so that its shaft is rotatedin one direction for driving Wheels 38 and hence the cars in theirforward direction along track 10. When button 32 is permitted to rise,the lowered ends of members 24, 25 also rise and the circuit is openedthereby deenergizing motor 42 and the cars come to rest. When button 33is depressed the other or right-hand ends of members 24, 25 are carrieddown and now the terminal of battery 23 engaging post 20 is connected tostrap 16 while the other battery terminal is connected to strap 17. Itis evident then that the current through motor 42 is now reversed.Consequently drive shaft 41 is driven in the direction opposite to thatpreviously described and the cars are driven backwards. Again, whenbutton 33 is raised the circuit is opened and the cars halt.

It is apparent that I have provided a toy electric railway system havinga highly simplified and rugged construction which lends itself to lowcost mass production methods and which is suitable for use and operationby a young child. By providing a virtually fiat surfaced track free ofconnecting wires a long trouble free track life is ensured which may bequickly and easily assembled. It will also be observed that since theconductive coatings, in particular track coatings 11 and 12, are formedon a rough surface they are not only strongly adherent but also tend toprevent the formation of continous scratches or breaks as might resultfrom a childs mishandling and which could otherwise cause an opencircuit failure.

Current collectors 46 together with conductive coatings 11 and 12provide a small resistance contact therebetween thereby minimizingcurrent losses which would otherwise occur. This is especially importantsince it is contemplated that battery operation will be favored toprovide maximum safety for a child. At the present time, I attribute thesuccess of my preferred sliding contact to the braided wire brushes 52which in rubbing along the rough surface of metalized coatings 11 and 12are believed to continually expose clean metal while weights 53 providea simple but highly efiicient means for ensuring the desired contactpressure which remains uniform over the entire life of the toy.

The terms and expressions which I have employed are used as terms ofdescription and not of limitation, and I have no intention, in the useof such terms and expressions, of excluding any equivalents of thefeatures shown and described or portions thereof, but recognize thatvarious modifications are possible within the scope of the inventionclaimed.

I claim:

1. Current transfer means comprising an elongated conductor strip, meansfor supporting said strip, an elongated braided wire brush havinglongitudinally extending Wires forming a lateral surface, said surfacebeing in contact with said strip, and means pressing said wire brushthrough substantially the whole length thereof against said strip.

2. Current transfer means comp-rising a support, two thin parallel,spaced elongated strips of conductive material coated on said support,two elongated braided Wire brushes, each having longitudinally extendingwires forming a lateral surface, the surface of each of said brushesbeing in contact with each of said strips, and means for pressing saidwire brushes through substantially the whole length thereof against saidstrips.

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